Larry Crabb's Counseling Model based on theories from Psychology Founders Freud, Adler, and Maslow.

As noted above, "His (Larry Crabbs) counseling model is Freudian, Adlerean, and Maslowian in its underlying theories."

"Freud had experiences with clairaudience (the supposed power to hear things outside the range of normal perception), telepathy (communication through means other than the senses, as by the exercise of an occult power), dreams of premonition as well as hearing voices (Harpers's Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experiences by Rosemary Guiley). Further, he rejected the truth that man was a sinner and that sin was at the root of man's problems."

In Maslow's view there were no absolutes. You determine your own reality. The answer to your problems is Self-Actualization, discovering that you are "god." You just need to accept that fact and live accordingly. American Health magazine sums this view up quite well when it said, "There's a new breed of shrinks in the land. But instead of couches and Rorschach tests, their accouterments are tarot cards and astrological charts... [These are] the shrinks of the yuppie generation... belief in the occult is stronger than ever."  Excerpt from: The Spoiling of Christianity By Psychology

"Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which he subsequently extended. His theory contends that as humans meet 'basic needs', they seek to satisfy successively 'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy." (Motivation and Personality, 1987)

"Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as deficiency needs associated with physiological needs, while the top level is termed growth needs associated with psychological needs. While our deficiency needs must be met, our being needs are continually shaping our behaviour. The basic concept is that the higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus once all the needs that are lower down in the pyramid are mainly or entirely satisfied. Growth forces create upward movement in the hierarchy, whereas regressive forces push prepotent needs further down the hierarchy." Read the rest here at the "Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia."

"After Freud and Jung came Alfred Adler, also a follower of Nietzsche, with "Individual Psychology," which maintains that the individual strive for what he called "superiority" but now is called "self-realization" or "self-actualization," and which came from Nietzsche's ideas of striving and self-creation. The "human potential movement" and humanistic psychology of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers are imbedded with these types of idea. The psychologists of "potential" teach the superior man.

Edward Munch said: "Alfred Adler translated Nietzsche’s philosophical idea of 'will to power' into the psychological concept of self-actualization. Thus, Nietzschean thought forms the foundation for and permeates Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology, Abraham Maslow’s Humanistic Biology, Carl Rogers’s Person-Centered Psychology, and has influenced many other psychological ideas and systems... Alfred Adler was the first psychologist to borrow directly from Nietzsche, making numerous references to the philosopher throughout his works. Adler took Nietzsche’s idea of 'will to power' and transformed it into the psychological concept of self-actualization, in which an individual strives to realize his potential." Excerpt from: "'Will to Power' becomes Self-Actualization"

Summary Criticism of Larry Crabb's Counseling Model

Is Crabb Now Anti-Psychology?

Is Larry Crabb taking a bold move in the right direction—away from psychological counseling theories and methods to biblically ordained ministries? Some of what he is now saying reveals that he does see shortcomings in psychotherapy. Some of what he is now saying sounds like what some of us have been saying all along—that the cure of souls belongs in the church and that mature believers should be the ones to minister to those suffering in the depths of their souls. The words "Larry Crabb’s Antipsychology Crusade" on the cover of the August 14 issue of Christianity Today could easily lead people into thinking Crabb is finally repenting of his psychologically based "biblical counseling" model and his years of therapizing. Is he really on a crusade against professional therapy and integrating psychology and Christianity? Excerpt from Psycho Heresy Awareness Ministries:

Read Dr. Doublespeak

Interestingly, Larry Crabb has an article posted on his "Institute For Life Enrichment" site titled "The Spoiling of Christianity by Psychology".  This article is posted without permission and does not include the correct title of the ministry which provided it nor a direct link to the site.  Rather there is a link to e-mail the author.  I quote it several times throughout this site.  Might the above be a way for Larry Crabb to deceive people into thinking he doesn't believe in mixing psychology and the Bible? 

"Christian counselor and popular author Larry Crabb took the trouble to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. But now he believes that in today's church, therapy should be replaced by another, more ancient practice—"spiritual direction." This is one of the classical Christian spiritual disciplines Crabb and others from a wide variety of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox backgrounds are examining and recommending anew in a biannual journal, Conversations: A Forum for Authentic Transformation ..." Chris Armstrong and Steven Gertz

"Contemplative advocate Richard Foster with Renovare has teamed up with once-conservative Bible school Biola University! And Larry Crabb!  Who Endorses Larry Crabb? Brennan Manning and Brian McCaren" Excerpts from Lighthouse Trails Research

The American Association of Christian Counselors promotes the integration of the Bible with Psychology.  An article written by an associate of Lynda Freeman, Editor of Round About Church, promotes Larry Crabb as Spiritual Director for AACC's 2005 World Conference.   Excerpt: "The greatest joy for me while attending the conference was the incredible thrill of interviewing the Spiritual Director of the conference, Dr. Larry Crabb". It goes onto state, "Dr. Crabb and I talked about how his personal views have "evolved" over the years.  He was quick to point out that he hasn't changed his perspective on many of the issues he wrote about early in his career, though from his words, "If I were to write those books now, I would communicate more clearly what I was trying to say." 

On page 9 of Larry Crabb's book "The Papa Prayer" he states, "I've practiced centering prayer. I've contemplatively prayed. I've prayed liturgically... I've benefited from each, and I still do. In ways you'll see, elements of each style are still with me."

"Contemplative education has been practiced at Naropa University and affiliated pre-K-12 schools since 1974. This department, since its inception in 1990, has been founded on a non-sectarian, yet distinctly Shambhala Buddhist approach to teacher education. Through the use of mindfulness/awareness meditation and related exercises, students develop clarity, depth, delight, openness and synchronization within themselves." Excerpt from Naropa's website.

"Peak Experiences:  American psychologist and philosopher Abraham H. Maslow (1908-1970) coined this term to describe nonreligious quasi-mystical and mystical experiences." " The two types of peak experiences are relative and absolute. Relative characterize those peak experiences in which there remains an awareness of subject and object, and which are extensions of the individual's own experiences. They are not true mystical experiences, but rather inspirations, ecstasies, and raptures."  Excerpts from Peak Experiences, The Mystica  

Healing is a most important function of neo-Paganism and neo-Pagan Witchcraft. It is considered a very important practice by many, and some even consider it a gift. This is as it should be because healing has played a dominant part in the evolution of humankind. Within neo-Paganism there are a variety methods of healing which involve magic; herbal and folk remedies; Eastern techniques which involve the changing of the body’s energy field; Native American and shamanic techniques; and Western approaches to medicine and psychology. While some neo-Pagans are professional healers trained in Eastern and/or Western medicine and psychology, others prefer holistic and natural healing methods involving healing by sound, breath, color, touch and movement.